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Ever since I first visited them in 2006 Corfu Donkey Rescue have been my charity of choice and you can find out about them and their work here
www.corfu-donkeys.com. (please copy and paste into your search engine)
Unlike the donkey sanctuary in the UK CDR do not receive £millions in donations nor do they receive any money from the Government, either before or since the financial crisis. All workers are volunteers working for free. Following a dispute and the Government threatening to close them down over licences (even though there was no such licence) CDR now have a new permanant home so need even more financial help to build the shelters etc needed over and above their day to day running costs and all this at a time when the negative press and troubles in Athens have reduced tourism. Corfu and the CDR are open as usual and there are no troubles on the Island. Yes the tax increases have pushed up many prices so its no cheaper than at home but the weather and the people haven't changed. As my walk uses many of the ancient donkey trails and I already support CDR in a small way it made sense to try to raise some sponsorship for them. In Greece a combination of motorisation, automation and a contempt for peasant agricultural past has resulted in a donkey culture crisis. The number of Greek donkeys fell by nearly 95% in the 50 years to 2006 and are still falling; from 500,000+ to under 18,000! So it is not just a question of rescuing animals from neglect but care and being able to expand into conservation of the culture and history of the Corfu donkey. Judy, despite working tirelessly and often in winter with little or no help, only has time and funds to scratch the surface of rescue and care but will never turn away a donkey in need of help. Her website (and also facebook site) will tell you and show pictures of donkeys in poor condition and tell you what happens to donkeys who aren't rescued. Its not all pleasant reading. Its often a sad end to a working life of over 30 years. Read her web blog (tab top left of website home page) to see what is happening now and feel her passion for the donkeys. Judy, the founder, set up CDR after finding a lost donkey in bushes, taking him in and caring for him. Things escalated from there and she rarely has less than 40 donkeys resident, others fostered around the Island and over a 100 fostered in Holland, Germany and Austria. To run the shelter and the outreach clinics around the Island (to help locals with farriers, vets and dentistry they otherwise couldnot afford) is costly; rents, water, electricity, phones, transport, building costs, repairs, fencing, food, medication, costs of vets/farriers etc. They really do survive day to day so every euro donated is crucial to them and really appreciated. Despite her win against the Government and their acknowledgment of her passion and the work she does for the donkeys of Corfu there is still no funding and any is unlikely in the current climate. Whilst we all probably know little about care of donkeys we all have a love for them due primarily to their religious connotations and seeing them on seaside visits as children. Donkeys have been around for centuaries, originate from Africa and have been used by man eversince. They are strong, hardy animals who can survive and work on a poor diet ideal for the peasant workers, hence their popularity as a working animal of choice all over the world. If you visit Corfu please visit CDR, Judy and her helpers will make you welcome. You will learn a lot and you can pre-arrange to take some donkeys for a walk. You can donate at the shelter or take along food (carrots/apples etc) to help them. If you can pay for your own accommodation and food you can go there for a working holiday as a volunteer anytime of year.
If you are following my blog and the walk that starts on Sunday then please consider making a donation, however small, to CDR. Every penny is used solely for the benefit of the donkeys.
To donate is easy. Visit www.corfu-donkeys.com. Top right of the home page is a 'donation' tab. Click on it and follow the instructions. You can use a credit/debit card or paypal. In the box saying 'purpose' please enter 'Dave's Walk'. Should you not be comfortable donating online you can donate at any branch of Lloyds Bank. From the home page of the CDR website you will see a 'Contact' tab on the left side. Click on it and you will find details of the UK bank account. Pop into Lloyds, fill out a deposit slip and pay in your donation over the counter. All nice and easy.
May I thank you in advance on behalf of Judy for your generosity and again confirm that every penny will benefit the donkeys. If you wish to wait and donate once I've completed the Corfu Trail no problem. These details will be repeated from time to time over the next few weeks.
Dont forget to visit Corfu Donkey Rescue on facebook or online at www.corfu-donkeys.com. Thank you.
Tomorrow the walk itinery.
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paul
non-member comment
good luck mate
Just to say have a great trip and enjoy every moment of the walk, I was lucky to have walked the trail a year or so ago and enjoyed every step. Hope you raise loads of money for the donkeys. Sweeney.